US-20260128159-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED ANNOTATION OF VESSEL DIAGRAMS IN MEDICAL IMAGING PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

US20260128159A1US 20260128159 A1US20260128159 A1US 20260128159A1US-20260128159-A1

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for automated annotation of vessel diagrams within a PACS, the PACS comprising medical images that include associated DICOM data. The method includes selecting a first imaging study corresponding to at least one anatomical structure; automatically identifying at least one vessel diagram corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; selecting a first vessel diagram of the automatically identified at least one vessel diagram; displaying the first vessel diagram with a set of predefined annotation tools; determining if at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets pre-determined criteria based on the DICOM data; when the at least one characteristic meets the pre-determined criteria, automatically incorporating at least one annotation with the first vessel diagram using at least one of the predefined annotation tools.

Inventors

Pierre Eugene Fuller

Assignees

FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE AMERICAS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241101

Claims (20)

1 . A computer-implemented method for automated annotation of vessel diagrams within a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), the PACS comprising at least one imaging study including at least one medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus, wherein the at least one medical image includes associated digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data, the computer-implemented method comprising: selecting a first imaging study in a worklist graphical user interface (GUI) in response to a first user input, wherein the first imaging study corresponds to at least one anatomical structure; automatically identifying, in a clinical reporting application (CRA) GUI, at least one vessel diagram corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; selecting a first vessel diagram of the automatically identified at least one vessel diagram in response to a second user input in the CRA GUI ; displaying, in the reporting CRA GUI, the first vessel diagram with a set of predefined annotation tools; determining if at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets pre-determined criteria based on the DICOM data; when the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets the pre-determined criteria, automatically incorporating at least one annotation with the first vessel diagram using at least one of the predefined annotation tools; and storing, in a memory of the PACS, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set of predefined annotation tools includes at least one of annotation tools, a vessel tool, an aneurysm tool, a graft tool, a collateral tool, a stent tool, a previous stent tool, a stent graft tool, or a lesion or stenosis tool.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the annotation tools include at least one of an ellipse tool, an arrow tool, or a text tool.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one annotation includes metadata comprising at least one of coordinates of the at least one annotation on the first vessel diagram, a type of the at least one annotation, or a content of the at least one annotation.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the computer-implemented method further comprising: retrieving, from the memory of the PACS, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation; displaying, in the CRA GUI, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation and the set of predefined annotation tools; receiving a user input modifying the at least one annotation of the first vessel diagram; and storing the first vessel diagram with the modified at least one annotation.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the modifying of the at least one annotation of the first vessel diagram comprises: adding one or more additional annotations, changing at least one of coordinates of the at least one annotation on the first vessel diagram, a type of the at least one annotation, or a content of the at least one annotation.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , the computer-implemented method further comprising: generating a clinical report corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; and incorporating the first vessel diagram with the modified at least one annotation in the generated clinical report.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the DICOM data includes pathologic information, diagnostic information, or therapeutic information.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure is a maximum diameter of a vessel, and wherein the predetermined criteria is greater than a threshold value.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure is a minimum diameter of a vessel, and wherein the predetermined criteria is less than or equal to a threshold value.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure is a presence of a medical device, and wherein the predetermined criteria is the medical device is non-functional.
12 . A computer system for automated annotation of vessel diagrams within a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), the PACS comprising at least one imaging study including at least one medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus, wherein the at least one medical image includes associated digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data, the computer system comprising: one or more computer processors; one or more non-transient, computer-readable storage media; program instructions stored on the one or more non-transient, computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising: program instructions to: select a first imaging study in a worklist graphical user interface (GUI) in response to a first user input, wherein the first imaging study corresponds to at least one anatomical structure; automatically identify, in a clinical reporting application (CRA) GUI, at least one vessel diagram corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; select a first vessel diagram of the automatically identified at least one vessel diagram in response to a second user input in the CRA GUI; display, in the CRA GUI, the first vessel diagram with a set of predefined annotation tools; determine if at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets pre-determined criteria based on the DICOM data; when the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets the pre-determined criteria, automatically incorporate at least one annotation with the first vessel diagram using at least one of the predefined annotation tools; and store, in a memory of the PACS, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation.
13 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the set of predefined annotation tools includes at least one of annotation tools, a vessel tool, an aneurysm tool, a graft tool, a collateral tool, a stent tool, a previous stent tool, a stent graft tool, or a lesion or stenosis tool.
14 . The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the annotation tools include at least one of an ellipse tool, an arrow tool, or a text tool.
15 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one annotation includes metadata comprising at least one of coordinates of the at least one annotation on the first vessel diagram, a type of the at least one annotation, or a content of the at least one annotation.
16 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions to: retrieve, from the memory of the PACS, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation; display, in the CRA GUI, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation and the set of predefined annotation tools; receive a user input modifying the at least one annotation of the first vessel diagram; and store the first vessel diagram with the modified at least one annotation.
17 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the modifying of the at least one annotation of the first vessel diagram comprises: adding one or more additional annotations, changing at least one of coordinates of the at least one annotation on the first vessel diagram, a type of the at least one annotation, or a content of the at least one annotation.
18 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions to: generate a clinical report corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; and incorporate the first vessel diagram with the modified at least one annotation in the generated clinical report.
19 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the DICOM data includes pathologic information, diagnostic information, or therapeutic information.
20 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure is a maximum diameter of a vessel, and wherein the predetermined criteria is greater than a threshold value.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of medical picture archiving and communication systems (PACS); and more particularly relates to a system and method for automated annotation of vessel diagrams within a PACS. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of medical imaging, the use of PACS has revolutionized the way medical professional's store, access, and analyze patient images. For example, PACS allows healthcare professionals to quickly access and conduct a detailed review of a plurality of medical images in digital format, which can lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses and treatment planning. Particularly, medical images in digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format that include information on vascular stenosis and stent placements play a crucial role for medical professionals in making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. In conventional technology, medical professionals manually annotate medical images with blood vessels by marking the locations of stenosis and stent placements. This method allows for the visual comprehension of diagnostic information of patients. However, several challenges exist with this approach. Manual annotation is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there is a risk of human error. Additionally, the creation of detailed reports that include precise information on lesions and measurements of blood vessels requires an extensive amount of work, which can hinder the efficient execution of medical tasks. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved method and system within PACS that allow for the efficient creation of detailed reports that include annotated vessel diagrams and precise information on lesions and measurements of blood vessels. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an aspect of the present invention to provide a computer-implemented method for automated annotation of vessel diagrams within a PACS, the PACS comprising at least one imaging study including at least one medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus, wherein the at least one medical image includes associated DICOM data. The method includes the steps of selecting a first imaging study in a worklist graphical user interface (GUI) in response to a first user input, wherein the first imaging study corresponds to at least one anatomical structure; automatically identifying, in a clinical reporting application (CRA) GUI, at least one vessel diagram corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; selecting a first vessel diagram of the automatically identified at least one vessel diagram in response to a second user input in the CRA GUI; displaying, in the CRA GUI, the first vessel diagram with a set of predefined annotation tools; determining if at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets pre-determined criteria based on the DICOM data; when the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets the pre-determined criteria, automatically incorporating at least one annotation with the first vessel diagram using at least one of the predefined annotation tools; and storing, in a memory of the PACS, the first vessel diagram with the at least one annotation. Another aspect of the present invention a computer system for automated annotation of vessel diagrams within a PACS, the PACS comprising at least one imaging study including at least one medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus, wherein the at least one medical image includes associated DICOM data. The computer system includes one or more computer processors; one or more non-transient, computer-readable storage media; and program instructions stored on the one or more non-transient, computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors. The program instructions include program instructions to select a first imaging study in a worklist GUI in response to a first user input, wherein the first imaging study corresponds to at least one anatomical structure; automatically identify, in a CRA GUI, at least one vessel diagram corresponding to the at least one anatomical structure of the first imaging study based on the DICOM data associated with the first imaging study; select a first vessel diagram of the automatically identified at least one vessel diagram in response to a second user input in the CRA GUI; display, in the CRA GUI, the first vessel diagram with a set of predefined annotation tools; determine if at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets pre-determined criteria based on the DICOM data; when the at least one characteristic of the at least one anatomical structure meets the pre-determined criteria, automatically incorporate at least one annotation with the first vessel diagram using at least one of the predefined annotation tools; and store, in a mem